Pirates Fall Short in Semifinal Pitcher's Duel Against North Island Cubs

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — In a tightly contested semifinal matchup at the Kamloops RiverCity Classic on Sunday morning, the North Delta Pirates saw their tournament run come to an end with a 3–0 loss to the North Island Cubs.

Both teams showcased strong pitching and clean defensive play in what quickly turned into a classic early-morning pitcher’s duel. North Island finally broke through in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a play that saw a North Island player advance home from third amongst call confusion to score the game's first run. North Island added two more insurance runs later in the contest, enough to hold off a Pirates offense that struggled to find timely hits.

Noah Grant turned in a gutsy performance on the mound for North Delta, going the distance with a complete game. He allowed eight hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out nine and walking just one across seven innings.

Offensively, Grant also led the way at the plate for the Pirates, finishing 2-for-3. However, the team provided little support, as the Pirates were limited to just three hits on the day by North Island starter Nolan Cathcart. Cathcart was in command from start to finish, spinning a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts and four walks.

The Pirates remained sharp defensively, playing almost error-free baseball and turning a key double play. Noah Saunders anchored the infield at catcher and earned the game MVP for the Pirates for his play.

Chase Robbins and Alex Mills each had two hits for the Cubs, while Robbins and Sebastian Verklan provided the RBIs needed to send North Island to the championship final.

Despite the loss, North Delta’s weekend included an undefeated run through round robin play and a top seed in their pool — a strong showing to build on for the rest of the season.

For more information about the North Delta Pirates, visit www.northdeltapirates.ca. Follow the team on Instagram (@northdeltapirates), Facebook, and Twitter (@piratesnd) for exclusive content and updates throughout the season.

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Matt Grant
Director with the North Delta Pirates
northdeltapirates@gmail.com